Folding table.



No. 327,722. PATENTED AUG.- 7, 1906.

L. K. GIBBS. FOLDING TABLE.

APPLIUATION FILED 001.16, 1905.

1m; NORRIS PETERS c474, wasnmcrou, a c.

LOUIS K. GIBBS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1906.

Application filed October 16, 1905. Serial No. 282.894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS K. Games, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingTables, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables or stands; andits object is to provide a simple, light, strong, and cheap constructionfor small tables or stands, in which the legs may be folded inwardagainst the table-top and in which when extended the legs will berigidly held.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a movable shelf forsuch a table which is so attached to the legs that when the same arefolded beneath the top the shelf will be moved into close proximity withthe lower side of the top and held in that position thereby until the-legs are extended to support the table, when the shelf will drop intooperative position and rigidly hold the legs.

A further object of the invention is to provide the same with certainother new and useful features, all as hereinafter more fully described,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a device embodying the invention and showing the legsextended. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan View of the same with the legsfolded. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of one corner of thetable with parts broken away to show the construction and the parts infolded position, and Fig. 4 is a detail showing a modified construction.

As shown in the drawings, the table-top .consists of a center portion 1,or top proper,

which is made of thin stuff and secured atits edges within a rectangularframe formed of side bars 2 and end bars 3, mortised together at thecorners and also each cut away at the lower side at each corner to forma notch or recess 4.

5 represents the table-legs, which are pivotally attached to the endbars of the top by castings 6, the round shank portion 7 of each castingextending parallel with the end bar 3 adjacent to its lower edge andprovided near its inner end with a laterally-extending round stud 8, towhich the upper end of the leg is secured by means of a tube or ferrule9, slipped over and secured at one end to said stud and at its lower endreceives a shank portion 10,

formed on the leg. The inner ends of the shanks 7 of the two castings ateach end of the table are connected and secured to turn together by atube 11, and straps 12, secured to the lower sides of the end bars, arebent around said tubes at their inner ends adjacent to the studs 8 toform hinges for pivotally attaching said castings and tubes to thetable-top.

The side bars 2 of the top frame are cut away inward from their ends agreater distance than the thickness of the end bars 3, so that thecastings 6 may project at their outer ends, through the openings thusformed, into the notches 4, and these outer ends are each formed with anarm 13, extending laterally from the shank 7 in a direction opposite tothat of the stud 8, so that when the legs are extended or turned down toa vertical position to support the table-top the castings will be turnedin their hinges or straps 12 until these arms engage the vertical ends14 of the side bars or wall of the notches and prevent the furtherturning outward of the legs. A rib extends laterally from the edge ofeach arm at its outer end to broaden said end, so that when said arm isturned upward into engagement with the end wall 14 of the notch saidbroadened end will engage the upper wall 15 of the notch and form afurther stop to limit the turning of the leg outward past the vertical.

To look the legs in their unfolded or extended position and rigidly holdthe same, a

brace-frame 16 is provided, the same being formed of a rod or heavywire, the ends of which are joined to form a continuous rectangularloop. This frame consists of the end portions 17, extendinglongitudinally beneath the end bars 3 outside of the legs, the

side portions 18 extending longitudinally of the side bars 2 at adistance inside of the same, and a double loop comprising a horizontalloop 19 and a vertical loop 20, formed by bending the rod at each cornerof the frame to embrace each leg. Each horizontal loop 19 is adapted toengage two sides of the leg when the leg is extended to support thetable and is formed by extending the end ortion 17 past the outside ofthe leg, then bending the rod at right angles to form the end 21 of theloop, and extending the same adjacent to the outer side of the leg alongthe side of said loop 20, then extending the rod horizontally to formthe upper end 22 of said loop, and extending the rod vertically down-.ward to form the other vertical side of the loop which meets thehorizontal side portion 18.

When the brace-frame 16 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 with its endportions lying 17 against the lower surface of the end bars of the .topframe, the legs may be turned inward or folded, the studs 8, to whichthe legs are attached, turning into the vertical loop; but

- when said legs are turned to their vertical position, as shown in Fig.1, the brace-frame at once slides down on the legs, with the sides ofthe horizontal loop in contact with the inner and outer sides of thelegs, and thus the frame forms a brace between the legs and reventstheir being turned inward until said race-frame is again raised,bringing the horizontal portion 22 of the vertical loop above thehorizontal plane of the pivot of said legs to permit the legs to beturned into said vertical loops. To limit the distance which the framemay slide down on the legs, said legs are each made so as to form aninwardly-projecting shoulder 28 at its inner side at the lower end ofthe ferrule 9 to engage the side of the loop, and to prevent anymovement of the legs in the loops when the frame is so lowered the legsare tapered to increase theirbreadth from their upper end downward totheshoulder, so that at the shoulder they will be of a width to fitclosely in the loops. This taper, as shown, may be made by flatteningthe ferrules slightly at their lower ends. The legs may also be made, asshown in Fig. 4, without the taper or shoulder and on the horizontalportion 22 of each vertical loop securing a cam-lever 24 to turn thereonandbind the leg between the large side of the cam and the outer side ofthe loop. With this construction the brace-frame may be secured at anydesired distance below the table-top.

A very light and strong shelf 25 is provided for the table by weavingsplints or other suitable material across between the side and endportions of the brace-frame, which thus forms a frame and support forthe shelf, and the rod1 forming said frame is stiffened by the she f.

The legs are so attached to the top that when folded they lie alongsideof each other within the top frame, and the shelf is also held by thebrace-frame or rod close up against the lower side of the top, making avery compact device when folded.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In afolding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotally attached tosaid top, and a brace-frame engaging the legs and adapted to slidethereon toward and from the top to lock the legs.

2. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotallyattached to said top, a shelf below the top, and means slidinglyengaging the legs to support the shelf.

3. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotallyattached to said top, a shelf, means embracing the legs and slidingthereon to lock the legs and to which the shelf is attached to movetherewith.

4. In a folding table, the combination with a top and legs pivotallyattached to said top, of a rectangular brace-frame engaging the legs ateach corner thereof to slide thereon toward and from the top, and ashelf secured to said brace-frame.

5. In a folding table, the combination with a top and legs pivotallyattached to said top, of a brace-frame provided with loops to embracethe legs and adapted to slide longitudi nally thereon.

6. In a folding table, the combination with a top and legs pivotallyattached to said top, of a brace-frame and a double loop at each cornerof the frame consisting of a horizontal loop to embrace the leg and avertical loop forming one side of the horizontal loop to permit theturning of the leg on its pivot.

7. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotallyattached to the top, an arm carried by each leg to engage the top andform a stop for the leg when extended, and a brace-frame formed with ahorizontal loop to embrace each leg and slide thereon when the legs areextended and a vertical loop forming one side of the horizontal loopinto which the leg is adapted to turn when the frame is raised to bringsaid vertical loops above the plane of the pivots of the legs.

8. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotallyattached to the top and having a tapered portion near their upper endsto broaden the same, a brace-frame, and means on the frame for embracinand sliding on the legs into engagement wit the broadened portionthereof.

9. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotallyattached to said top and each provided with a shoulder forming a stop ata distance from their pivots and tapered toward said shoulder to broadenthe same above the shoulder, and a brace-frame formed with a horizontalloop to embrace each leg and slide downward thereon into engagement withthe shoulder.

10. In a folding table, the combination of a top, a top frame to whichthe top is secured at its edges and formed with a recess in each corner,pivot-castings pivotally secured to the frame with one end extendinginto said recesses, an arm on each casting extending laterally therefromwithin each recess, a stud on each casting extending therefrom in adirection opposite to that of the arm, a leg secured to each stud, and abrace-frame embracing each leg and adapted to slide thereon.

11. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of legs pivotallyattached to the top, a rectangular brace-frame, means on the frame forengaging and sliding on the legs toward and from the top, and splints orother suitable material woven across the frame to form a shelf.

12. In a folding table, the combination with a top, of pivot-castingspivotally secured to the top, arms on said castings forming stops, legssecured to the castings, a rod bent to form a rectangular brace-frameformed with a horizontal loop at each corner to embrace a leg and withvertical loops forming one side of each horizontal loop,'and a shelfsecured to the side and end portions of said brace-frame.

' 13. In a folding table,the combination of a top frame formed with anotch in each corner at its lower side, a top secured to said frame,pivot-castings formed with round shank portions, straps secured to thelower side of the end bars of the frame and embracing the shanks topivotally attach the same to the frame, tubes connecting the inner endsof the shanks of the two castings at each end of the frame, an arm onthe outer end of the shank of each casting extending laterallytherefrom, a stud on each shank extending outward therefrom in adirection opposite to that of the arm, legs, ferrules connecting theupper ends of the legs with the studs, a braceframe formed of a rod bentto form a horizontal loop to embrace each leg and a vertical loopforming one side of the horizontal loop and means for limiting themovement of the brace-frame on the legs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS K. GIBBS. Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, OLIVER E. BARTHEL.

